Hi all,

We’ve got a story today on lab testing and it’s made me want to dig in to this subject further. Got any ideas, thoughts or tips? Reach out any time: alex@weedweek.com

• Lab execs allege rampant potency fraud

Enjoy,

Alex

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Correction: Last week I misspelled the name of LA dispensary Gorilla RX.

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Berner makes the cover of Forbes

Cookies’ mogul Berner looks badass as the first cannabiz exec to appear on the cover of Forbes. The story, by my friend Will Yakowicz, focuses less on Cookies than the market’s struggles, mostly in California.

A few juicy tidbits:

• According to Jonathan Rubin, CEO of New Leaf Data Services, 95% of California growers operated at a loss last year.
• “Every single company has a back door,” says Jonathan Elfand who runs Empire Cannabis Club in New York City.
• Industry pioneer Steve DeAngelo says legalization failed in California.
• “This whole thing is a fucking scam,” says Jason Gellman of hallowed Ridgeline Farms in Humboldt.
• Glass House Farms co-founder Graham Farrar called the company’s enormous greenhouse a “call option” on federal legalization.

Separately, MJBiz announced Berner would headline their flagship Las Vegas conference in November.

Read the whole thing

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MedMen hit with discrimination suit

An Asian American woman who worked at MedMen‘s Desert Hot Springs (Riverside) facility has sued the MSO alleging discrimination, retaliation, and other labor violations. Amanda Tran alleges the company harassed her on the basis of race, national origin, ancestry, sex and gender. In a response, MedMen denied all the allegations.

Last month WeedWeek was also first to report that MedMen was sued for nearly $1M in back rent at a Chicago location. (Legal research facilitated by UniCourt.)

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Statewide:

• Lawmakers sent Gov. Newsom a bill that would create safe drug injection site programs.
  SacBee
• The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial page is concerned about the industry’s crisis.
• The state fair’s first cannabis exhibit was popular.
  CBS
• The massive McKinney Fire in far northern Siskiyou Co is not contained and fire season is just beginning.
  Redheaded Blackbelt

Business:

• MJBiz suggests California consumption lounges could finally gain traction.
• East Bay Express asks what happened to singer David Crosby’s brand, Mighty Croz, which the old rocker announced in 2018 and has had on hold since.
• AdWeek discusses the appeal of experiential marketing — like wrestling matches and a planned mini Woodstock — for brands.
• Nevada-based Flower One reported a drop in revenue.
  Green Market Report

Local:

• Santa Monica is the latest beach city that will let voters decide on dispensaries in November.
• Nearby in Manhattan Beach, the city council voted to create a ballot initiative to uphold the city’s dispensary ban. Residents will also vote on an initiative to allow three shops.
  Easy Reader
• In Redondo Beach, the vote will be, oddly, on Wednesday October 19.
  Easy Reader
• With LA’s new social equity verification process complete Canna Law Blog has some tips for those who didn’t qualify. The application process begins in about three months after qualifiers are announced.
• SF lawmakers filed a resolution to decriminalize psychedelics.
  Marijuana Moment
• Following a local grand jury report found delays with the license approval process, Mendocino County could lose $2.2M in state grants for cannabis businesses.
  Redheaded Blackbelt
• The LA Daily News looks at how illegal grows disrupt life in Antelope Valley (LA County.)

Health and science:

• A post from law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King discusses MED use in hospitals in the three states that allow some form of it: California, Maine and Connecticut.

Neighboring states:

• Nevada companies are tired of paying regulators more than $100/hour. One company has paid nearly $30,000.
  Nevada Independent
• Casino.org reports Nevada’s first consumption lounges will probably open this year.
• Canna Law Blog discusses new tough talk from Oregon regulators.

Company milestones:

• Cookies announced a global beverage partnership with Green Monké, which is available in Canada and California.
• Holistic Industries announced the arrival of Garcia Hand Picked in Colorado, in partnership with Veritas Fine Cannabis. It’s the fifth state for what calls itself the country’s top celebrity brand.
• Brand Leune raised $5M from investors including Snoop Dogg’s vehicle Casa Verde and NBA stars.
• Kiva’s Lost Farm gummy brand has partnered with musician SAINt JHN for a second limited edition edibles line. Benzinga

Job Moves:

• Antonio Frazier has joined testing company Sonoma Lab Works as president. He was previously with CannaSafe which shut its California operations on account of rampant “lab shopping.” North Bay Business Journal

Upcoming:

• Weedmaps reports earnings on August 9.
• The city of San Diego is holding an August 11 meeting to discuss proposed changes to cannabis rules.
• Oaksterdam University is celebrating its 15th birthday with a screening of documentary American Pot Story: Oaksterdam on September 24 at the Fox Theater in Oakland.

Recognitions:

• Legal publication Daily Journal named its top California cannabis lawyers: Sarah A.K. Blitz – Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; Oren Bitan – Buchalter; Hilary V. Bricken – Harris Bricken Sliwoski; Anita Famili – Manatt, Phelps & Philips; Amanda R. Conley; Shay Aaron Gilmore – The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore; Tracy A. Gallegos – Duane Morris LLP; Marc D. Hauser – until recently Reed Smith; Ryan D. Lowther – Farella Braun + Martel; Michelle A. Mabugat – Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger; Shabnam Malek – Brands & Branch LLP; Meital Manzuri – Manzuri law; Allison B. Margolin – Allison B. Margolin PLC; Joseph A. Rogoway – Rogoway law Group, P.C.; Jason H. Rosell – Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones; Robert W. Selna – Selna Partners LLP; Priya Sopori – Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger; Katy M. Young – Ad Astra Law Group; Amy M. Steinfeld – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Sander C. Zagzebski – Clark Hill

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